Russell was not shy in addressing the dramatic potential of the front row line-up.
“I mean, I’ve got a few more points on my license to play with,” he said, when asked how he would approach the battle into Turn 1. “Max is one of the best drivers. There’s no reason for him to race any differently, and I’m not sitting here thinking he’s going to give us more room. If anything, probably the opposite to try and prove a point.”
Although somewhat contradicted by Verstappen’s actions in Spain, Russell insisted that didn’t expect the pair to make contact in Canada. “I don’t think any driver goes out looking to crash into somebody and get penalty points on your licence,” he added. “Ultimately, we’re all here to win. You’re not going to do something that’s going to jeopardise yourself from the race.”
But there have been plenty of examples, in recent F1 history alone, where drivers have taken to extreme measures to prevent a bitter rival taking an advantage.
Verstappen and Russell’s first public row
After a small coming together during the 2022 Azerbaijan GP sprint, Verstappen marched up to Russell and accused him of “lacking common sense.” He was also later heard calling the Briton “Princess George”, “pathetic” and a “dickhead”.
“I was very surprised by how angry he was,” Russell said in response. “I am not just going to wave him by because he’s Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. I am here to fight and win.”
Russell said he wanted to stand up against F1’s “bully”
Grand Prix Photo
The feuding went little further than a few words exchanged in the heat of the moment, not least because Verstappen’s dominance meant that the pair were rarely competing on track.
However, it was becoming clear that the pair just couldn’t seem to stand each other.
The 2024 Qatar dispute
The fireworks really began after a relatively small incident during qualifying in Qatar, where Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for impeding Russell on his out-lap — after vocal complaints from Russell — which meant the Mercedes driver inherited pole position.
The penalty was ultimately irrelevant, as Russell struggled to get off the line and finished a distant fourth while Verstappen charged to victory but in his post-race interviews, the Dutchman stated he had “lost all respect” for the Briton and accused him of purposely “screwing him over” and being “two-faced” in front of stewards during a hearing into the incident.
Motor Sport‘s grand prix editor Mark Hughes suggests that a clash of personalities probably didn’t help: “Verstappen doesn’t generally like Russell’s ‘head boy’ persona and so is probably quite easily wound up by him – and reacted accordingly,” he wrote.
